Last year was one of the more successful seasons for the Noblesville girls cross country team.
The Millers finished fifth at the state meet, their best placing since 2009. Noblesville also kept pace with the other top Hamilton County teams, and actually upended eventual state champion Carmel for the regional title.
So what’s in store for the 2017 edition of the Millers? Noblesville graduated three seniors from the 2016 team, but have an elite runner back in Abi Little. Now a senior herself, Little is a two-time All-State runner, having finished 19th at the state meet as a sophomore and 14th as a junior. The other three state participants back are sophomore Sophie Reichard and juniors Aubrey Swart and Katherine Sandys.
Five other Miller runners are back from the team’s sectional roster: Juniors Aubrie Deal and Maria Anderson, and sophomores Taylor Gregory, Brynn Eaton and Anna Hazelrigg. Also back is letter winner Grace Judy.
Many eyes will be on Little and Anderson this season due to their stellar performances during the spring in track and field. Both were members of the champion 4×800 relay team at the IHSAA state finals, in addition to winning the 4×800 and Distance Medley Relay at the Hoosier State Relays. Anderson also finished eighth in the 400 dash, while Little was 10th in the 1600 run.
Noblesville coach Dennis Scheele has high expectations for many of his runners, starting with Deal.
“I look for Aubrie to shine this year,” said the coach. “Aubrie will no longer be in a support role.”
Swart will also continue to be a top runner, as will Gregory, junior Grace Brisco and sophomores Kaylah Keating and Madison King.
“In addition to the returning varsity letter winners listed above there have been several freshman making noise during early conditioning,” said Scheele. “They include: Sophie Stahl, Bella Sharples-Gordon, Chloe Click, Lauren Sandys and Meghan Hoffman.”
SCHEDULE
Aug. 19: at Plainfield Relays, 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 22: at Harrison 8-Way, 5 p.m.
Aug. 26: Noblesville Hokum Karem, 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 29: County meet at Noblesville, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 2: at Marion Invitational, 8:30 a.m.
Sept. 9: at Ben Davis Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 14: JV Lawrence Central Twilight Relays, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Crawford County Invitational, 10 a.m.
Sept. 19: JV HSE Triangular Meet, 5 p.m.
Sept. 23: at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 30: HCC meet at Noblesville, 10 a.m.
Oct. 3: JV North Central Invitational, 5 p.m.
Two-time All-State runner Abi Little will be a senior for the Noblesville girls cross country team this season. (Kent Graham/File photo)